Colombian Peace Court Sentences Ex-Colonel to Over 5 Years for 31 Civilian Murders in 'False Positives' Case

The Special Jurisdiction for Peace (JEP) in Colombia has handed down a sentence of five years, nine months, and one day to retired Army Lieutenant Colonel Germán León Durán. He was convicted for his responsibility in 31 murders and forced disappearances of civilians between 2005 and 2006, whose deaths were falsely reported as combat casualties.

This ruling is historic as León Durán becomes the first army officer to receive an alternative sentence under Macrocase 03, an investigation focused on "illegitimately presented deaths as combat casualties," commonly known in Colombia as "false positives." The crimes occurred in the departments of Casanare and Boyacá while León Durán commanded the Ramón Nonato Pérez Infantry Battalion.

During his command, the battalion systematically murdered and disappeared civilians, primarily young peasants and vulnerable individuals. These victims were often lured with false job offers or falsely accused of belonging to illegal armed groups before being executed and reported as fallen guerrillas. The JEP classified these acts as crimes against humanity for murder and forced disappearance, and as war crimes for homicide of protected persons, noting that 94.8% of the battalion's reported operational results during León Durán's tenure were illegitimate.

León Durán acknowledged his responsibility during a public hearing in March, admitting that the orders he signed facilitated these crimes. He stated, "I issued the order... If I hadn't given that signature, the loss of your loved one would not have occurred." He also admitted to deliberately neglecting oversight to protect his military career and fabricating false backgrounds to stigmatize victims. The JEP recognized his late admission of responsibility and his commitment to aiding in the search for the disappeared, participating in victim dignification acts, and promoting human rights training within the military.

The sentence, part of the transitional justice system, is significantly reduced compared to ordinary penalties, which could exceed 20 years for such grave offenses. However, this benefit is contingent upon his fulfillment of commitments related to truth, reparation, and non-repetition.

“

I issued the order (...) If I hadn't given that signature, the loss of your loved one would not have occurred.